Whisky: Aultmore 16 Year (2006), Cadenhead's

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 49.7%

Cask: Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 16 Years (Distilled 2006)

Nose: Malty and fresh; a kiss of citrus opened to peppery dandelion greens, honeysuckle, green apples, number two pencils, and a delightful chalkiness; musty antiques and dusty paper— traversing old library stacks.

Palate: Medium-bodied and a touch oily, citrus and resin careened into books, frayed bindings, old glue, and paper; oat cakes with a kiss of orange and honey carried a restrained sweetness as pepper and peppery dandelion greens built in the background and arrived on the finish.

Finish: Medium to long, austere and peppery with a touch of well-worn wood and citrus.

Score: 6-7 (79)

Mental Image: Secret Library Herb Garden

Narrative & Notes: Mellow, malty, and austere, this teenage Aultmore struck a careful balance between musty, dusty, citrus, and sweet elements. reckon this is one of the few times I wished the whisky had been a tad sweeter— certainly, more vibrancy would have provided a beautiful contrast to the old library books and peppery wood. Occasional hints of citrus, or even dehydrated apples, never quite managed to do it.

While this had all the characteristic rawness of these Cadenhead bottles, it had an element of refinement to it as age had tempered most of the spirited notes and calmed any youthful prickle. The finish was particularly impressive—though it lacked depth or clearly defined elements—it was incredibly long and pleasant; there was no need for another quick sip as it sat and developed on the tongue.

Overall, a lovely teenage Aultmore; check out this review from my good buddy Dustbunna who tracked some interesting changes in the bottle as it was open.